Last Updated on April 29, 2025

The future of gambling in New Zealand is taking shape and Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden is at the helm. Over the last few months, van Velden has signalled that the era in which New Zealand was hands-off regarding regulating gambling is ending. A string of big-ticket rulings and planned legislative changes suggest a shift towards stronger regulation, openness and consumer protection, ​especially in the growing online market.

Cracking Down on Risky Deals

One of the initial flashpoints occurred earlier in the year when van Velden thwarted a $150 million joint venture between an overseas casino operator and the TAB. The Minister said the proposal presented “unacceptable risks” to the integrity of New Zealand’s gambling system, asserting that allowing the nation’s principal gambling agent to become dependent upon foreign-based casino interests would “undermine public trust.”

“Not on my watch,” van Velden said, a mantra now used as a rallying point for her strategy. The move was widely welcomed among anti-gambling lobbyists but caused discomfort among some commercial interests, led by those seeking to modernise New Zealand’s betting market through private capital.

Online Gambling

Parallel to those splashy moves has been another less visible yet equally meaningful realignment in online gambling regulation. With increasing numbers of Kiwis seeking faster, more convenient bet opportunities using online platforms, concerns have been growing about the virtual market’s unregulated status. It’s not unusual today for New Zealanders to seek opportunities like no deposit casinos NZ offered by some casinos, where players can bet without depositing money. Although such sites have enticing offers, van Velden explains them as devoid of consumer protections demanded by local operators.

“The emergence of unregulated overseas operators puts our people at risk of exploitation,” she said. “We must develop a regulation system that protects players while enabling innovation within defined, enforceable parameters.”

Influencers and Accountability

Another contentious area has been the government’s move against overseas-based gambling operators marketing to social media followers in New Zealand, mainly Māori social media personalities. A fresh code of practice released in March imposes penalties of as much as $10,000 for people marketing unlicensed gambling products to viewers in New Zealand.

Despite criticism of culturally selective targeting, Van Velden stood by the decision, claiming the rules would bind all sections equally. Minister Van Velden admitted, however, to culturally sensitive enforcement as the roll-out occurs.

“We acknowledge the need to work alongside communities rather than against them,” she explained. “But spreading unregulated gambling platforms has consequences in the real world and we can’t pretend not to see them because the platform is new.”

A New Licensing Model

Central to van Velden’s proposals is licensing all internet casino operators providing services to New Zealand residents. The plan, set out in Cabinet documents published last September, would subject offshore sites to rigorous conditions concerning responsible gambling measures, anti-money-laundering requirements and tax levies. Internet service providers in New Zealand would geo-block anyone who didn’t get a licence.

The proposal takes its cue primarily from international models, mainly in Europe, whose countries such as Denmark and the UK achieved success in regulating the online industry through stringent licensing regimes. In the Minister’s opinion, licensing would “level the playing field” and get offshore operators to share in social expenses relating to gambling harms.

Industry Pushback

Not surprisingly, not everybody is pleased. Some offshore sportsbooks have already expressed concern about New Zealand’s licensing demands proving too rigorous, worrying overregulation risks pushing players further onto the black market.

Domestic operators, on the other hand, have overwhelmingly embraced the changes. The New Zealand Racing Board and SkyCity Entertainment Group have openly endorsed a regulated environment, viewing this as one mechanism for bolstering local interests and protecting against unfair competition.

“It’s about balance, really,” van Velden said in an interview. “We’re not out to stifle innovation, but we do want to hold people to account.”

Technology as a Tool for Safer Gambling

In tandem with legislative reform, van Velden has intensely focused on leveraging technology to reduce gambling harms. The new rules would compel licensed operators to provide self-exclusion mechanisms, reality checks, deposit caps and AI-based intervention controls capable of identifying problem play. Operators who do not implement those measures risk losing their licenses.

Digital harm reduction professionals have welcomed the move, believing that tech interventions have the potential to detect red flags far earlier than other measures. “Technology isn’t the enemy in this situation,” said van Velden. Used properly, it’s one of our strongest defences.”

Public Opinion in Full Swing

Recent surveys indicate van Velden’s hard line has wide backing. A February poll found that 68 percent of Kiwis support stricter regulation of online gambling and widespread support exists among parents, teachers and health workers.

Still, public attitudes remain mixed about how far individuals want the government to intervene. While some support improved protection, others fear unforeseen consequences, such as loss of freedom of choice and invasion of privacy in monitoring internet-based gambling.

Van Velden herself appears unfazed. “Keeping individuals safe from harm isn’t about depriving them of freedom,” she explained. “It’s about not allowing freedom to be bought at the expense of well-being.”